Mbappe is the new Pele — Wenger

Speaking to beIN SPORTS, Gunners boss Wenger claimed that the 18-year-old has the potential to become the best player in the world.

‘I think he is exceptionally intelligent, he has an exceptional character, and exceptional belief,’ Wenger said.

‘I say to my friends, “Mbappe is the new Pele”. He can become the best player in the world, because he as well has the charisma, the character, the belief.

‘You never think you’re speaking to an 18-year-old when you speak to him. He always gives you the impression when he gets the ball that something special can happen.’

Mbappe joined PSG on loan from Monaco last month and will complete a £166million move to Paris next summer.

The teenager made his PSG debut on Friday and scored a goal in a 5-1 win over Metz.

Neymar also netted in that victory – his fourth goal in as many Ligue 1 appearances since joining PSG in a world-record £198m transfer from Barcelona.

Wenger is unsure what motivated Neymar to leave the Nou Camp for Parc des Princes as the Arsenal chief believes Barca still have better players.

‘Neymar never expressed exactly in his statement the reasons of his move, because there is always a huge desire for the players to play with the best players,’ Wenger added.

‘He decided to go the other way, so that is… for financial reasons, or for reasons that he thinks Paris Saint-Germain is tomorrow’s club and will take over from Real Madrid and Barcelona, or for individual reasons, such as maybe he wants to become the player that the team turns around, and to be acknowledged as the best player in the world.’

Neymar was at Barca for four seasons, winning two La Liga titles, three Copa del Reys, one Champions League and one FIFA Club World Cup.